Cast Iron From the Oregon Trail

[Doug Mauck]

This cast iron item seems to have had hard use, but it's beyond me what it is. I found it in a trace from the Union Ferry Branch of the Oregon Trail in Topeka, Kansas. It was 3" deep on a hill where items can't sink because of rocks. There is a small hole that runs lengthwise through the item.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Almost looks like a crudely made 1 inch hex socket. I cant see the drive side. Is the hole square? ...maybe corroded or broken?
Maybe it broke off a tire iron.

 

[Angelo]

How about part of a wagon wheel hub/axle?

Tony

 

[Doug Mauck]

Here is another view.

 

[tulecanyon]

i agree with the socket idea. bet there is a crack in it, thats why it was up the hillside.

 

[Angelo]

Almost looks like a crudely made 1 inch hex socket. I cant see the drive side. Is the hole square? ...maybe corroded or broken?
Maybe it broke off a tire iron.

Ok. I'll go with BIGCY.

Probably no crack. Some guy started to make it. Got pissed and threw it up on the rocks.

Tony

 

[NGE]

Grease cap for conestoga wagon?......NGE

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im changing my mind on the socket idea now that I see a pic of the other side. It doesnt have a square drive and is very crudely made. I didnt say it was, I said it almost looks like a socket.

 

[tulecanyon]

i am sticking with the socket theory.
the outside has been worked to accept a large wrench.
some early buggy tools were set up like that.

 

[ivan salis]

maybe part of a mining spray mozzle -- used water pressure to mine hill sides ? just a thought

 

[Blacksheep]

It does look like a hand-forged , bolstered socket, never seen step bolstering before and the body
appears somewhat squared off.

EDIT: Heres a pretty good site for old tools, hope it helps.

http://www.wrenchingnews.com/nail-auction-2007/catalog.html

Neat item.

 

[truckinbutch]

I'd bet on socket for wooden wheeled wagon hub nut.Probably lost ,not thrown away.
As an aside;
Sheriffs of small towns would remove a hub nut from each wagon of travelling carnivals when they came to town back in the day.
These hub nuts had to be specially fabricated by a blacksmith at a high cost and many hours of labor.
When the carnival was finished and all local merchant's bills had been satisfied the sheriff would return the hub nuts.
Thus the phrase 'A tough nut to crack'.